Auxiliary handle attachable to tools for moving bulk material

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary handle attachable to a tool having an elongated handle is disclosed. The auxiliary handle has a shaft with a gripping yoke at one end for manual gripping. At the opposite end of the shaft a contact surface is positioned which interfaces with the tool handle in abutting relationship. A clamp is positioned facing the contact surface for clamping the contact surface against the tool handle. The contact surface is angularly disposed so as to permit the auxiliary handle to be angularly oriented with respect to the tool handle. The contact surface is divided into two contact faces which engage the tool handle in spaced relation to each other. The clamp has a clamping piece with a contact region also divided into spaced apart contact surfaces for engaging the tool handle. The clamping piece is bolted to the shaft. A cross bolt and clips hold the attachment bolts to the sides of the shaft.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/322,609, filed Sep. 17, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention concerns an auxiliary handle attachable to anelongated tool handle for tools such as shovels, rakes, pitchforks, hoesand the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Tools having elongated handles such as shovels, rakes, pitchforksand the like are the cause of many injuries and even fatalities eachyear. As shown in FIG. 1, the use of a shovel 10 having an elongatedhandle 12 according to the prior art requires the user to bend at thewaist to effectively use the tool to move or lift bulk material such asdirt, snow, cement and the like. This position is uncomfortable andplaces a significant burden on the muscles of the back and neck. Rapidfatigue of the user is often the result, thus, limiting the efficiencyand length of time one can use such tools. The handle may also lead toneck and back strain (lumbosacral sprain), herniated discs betweenvertebrae, lower abdominal hernias, as well as other problems normallyassociated with lifting a heavy load with the back muscles. Furthermore,the increased effort needed to work with tools having handles accordingto the prior art can lead to a heart attack as is evidenced by the jumpin the number of heart attacks which occurs annually during the wintermonths in regions which receive significant snow fall which must beshoveled.

[0004] There is clearly a need for ergonomically improved handles fortools used to move bulk material which relieves the strain on the user'sback, is less fatiguing and more comfortable to use.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention concerns an auxiliary handle attachable to anelongated tool handle of a tool to facilitate manual lifting of aworking end of the tool. The auxiliary handle comprises an elongatedshaft having a contact surface at one end adapted to engage the toolhandle. A clamp comprising a clamping piece is attached to the shaft atthe one end for clamping the contact surface against the tool handle. Agripping yoke is mounted on an opposite end of the shaft for manualgripping of the auxiliary handle to facilitate lifting of the tool andits load.

[0006] Preferably, the clamping piece comprises a contact region adaptedto engage the tool handle. The contact region is positioned opposite toand facing the contact surface on the end of the shaft. A pair offlanges extend outwardly from opposite sides of the contact regiontransversely to the tool handle. A pair of elongated fasteners aremounted along opposite sides of the shaft at the one end, each fastenercomprises a first end engageable with the shaft, and a second endengageable with one of the flanges. The fasteners clamp the contactregion and the contact surface against the tool handle for retaining theauxiliary handle to it.

[0007] Preferably, the contact surface on the end of the shaft comprisesa pair of contact faces angularly oriented relatively to one another soas to face a common center or an axis coaxial with the long axis of theshaft. The contact faces contact the tool handle in spaced relation toone another circumferentially around the tool handle. The contact facesmay also be angularly oriented relatively to the long axis of the shaftabout an axis perpendicular to both the long axis of the shaft and thelong axis of the tool handle for orienting the shaft angularlyrelatively to the tool handle.

[0008] The contact region on the clamping piece comprises a pair ofsecond contact faces angularly oriented relatively to one another so asto face a second common center, preferably located on the long axis ofthe shaft, the second contact faces contacting the tool handle in spacedrelation to one another circumferentially around the tool handle.

[0009] The clamp allows the auxiliary handle to be adjustably positionedalong the length of the elongated tool handle for positioning thegripping yoke at a position allowing manual grasping thereof by a userin a substantially upright posture, thereby reducing or eliminating thepotential for back strain.

[0010] The invention also contemplates a tool having an auxiliary handleas described above.

[0011] It is an object of the invention to provide an auxiliary handleattachable to the elongated handle of a tool.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide an auxiliaryhandle which is variably positionable along the length of an elongatedhandle of a tool.

[0013] It is again another object of the invention to provide anauxiliary handle which is angularly oriented with respect to theelongated handle of a tool.

[0014] It is yet another object of the invention to provide an auxiliaryhandle attachable to an elongated handle of a tool which allows the toolto be used assuming a substantially upright posture.

[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent upon further consideration of the drawings and detaileddescription of a preferred embodiments which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a person using a tool for moving bulkmaterial, the tool having an elongated handle according to the priorart;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tool having an auxiliary handleaccording to the invention as used by a person;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the auxiliary handleshown in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale;

[0019]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the auxiliary handleshown in FIGS. 2 and 3; and

[0020]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0021]FIG. 2 shows a shovel 10 having an elongated handle 12 with anattached auxiliary handle 14 according to the invention. The auxiliaryhandle 14 will work equally well with other tools such as rakes,pitchforks, hoes, as well as other types of shovels, all of which have aworking end 16 attached to a working piece 18 adapted to move bulkmaterial. The shovel 10 is shown herein by way of example only and isnot intended to limit the use of the auxiliary handle in any way.

[0022] The auxiliary handle 14 is variably positionable along theelongated handle 12 between the working end 16 and the opposite end 20at a position to afford ergonomic and mechanical advantage to the useras shown by a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2. The tool 10 to which theauxiliary handle 14 is attached may be used by the person with asubstantially upright posture as illustrated in FIG. 2. This postureallows the load on the tool to be kept close to the user's body; liftingis accomplished mainly by means of the arm muscles thereby avoidingfatigue as well as back and neck strain.

[0023]FIGS. 3 and 4 show the auxiliary handle 14 in detail. Theauxiliary handle comprises a shaft 22 with a gripping yoke 24 attachedto one end to allow it to be manually grasped by the user as shown inFIG. 2. The gripping yoke 24 comprises a pair of side portions 26extending from the shaft 22 and arranged in spaced relation to oneanother defining an opening 28 between them. A hand grip 30 is attachedbetween the side portions 26 and is preferably oriented substantiallyperpendicularly to the long axis 32 of shaft 22. This permits the use ofan overhand grip which avoids strain and possible injury to the wrist.

[0024] The other end of the shaft 22 is adapted to attach to theelongated tool handle 12 in abutting engagement and has a contactsurface 34 interfacing with the elongated tool handle. Preferably,contact surface 34 is divided into two contact faces 34 a and 34 bpositioned angularly with respect to one another so as to both facetoward a common center 36 (see FIG. 4) preferably on the long axis 32.The contact faces 34 a and 34 b are arranged on opposite sides of thelong axis 32 to provide at least two contact points engaging theelongated tool handle 12 in spaced relation to one anothercircumferentially around the tool handle. Use of two angled contactfaces 34 a and 34 b allows the auxiliary handle 14 to accommodate arelatively large range of elongated tool handle sizes and shapes and isespecially suited to engage the round handles most commonly found ontools for moving bulk material.

[0025] As best shown in FIG. 3, contact faces 34 a and 34 b are furtherangularly oriented relatively to the long axis 32 of shaft 22 about anaxis 40 which is perpendicular to both the long axis 32 of shaft 22 andthe long axis 38 of tool handle 12. The angular relation between faces34 a and 34 b and the long axis 32 of the shaft 22 allows the shaft 22of auxiliary handle 14 to be oriented at an angle 42 to the tool handle12. Angle 42 of shaft 22 provides for further ergonomic adjustment ofauxiliary handle 14 allowing efficient lifting with the substantiallyupright posture shown in FIG. 2.

[0026] A clamp 44 is arranged at the end of the shaft 22 oppositegripping yoke 24. As shown in FIG. 5, clamp 44 preferably comprises aclamping piece 45 having a contact region 46 positioned facing thecontact surface 34 on shaft 22. The elongated handle 12 is positionablebetween the contact surface 34 and contact region 46 permitting clampingattachment of the auxiliary handle 14 to the elongated handle 12 at anypoint along its length.

[0027] Preferably, the contact surface 46 is also divided into contactfaces 46 a and 46 b which are positioned angularly with respect to oneanother so as to face another common center 48 between the two contactfaces 46 a and 46 b and preferably located on the long axis 32 of shaft22. Similar to contact faces 34 a and 34 b, the contact faces 46 a and46 b are arranged on opposite sides of the long axis 32 to provide atleast two contact points engaging the elongated tool handle 12 in spacedrelation to one another circumferentially around the tool handle. Inaddition to allowing clamp 44 to accommodate a wide range sizes andshapes of tool handle 12, use of two additional contact faces 46 a and46 b provides a secure and stable four point contact engagement of theauxiliary handle 14 to the tool handle 12.

[0028] Tool handle 12 is effectively clamped between the contact faces34 a, 34 b, 46 a and 46 b preferably through the use of fasteners 50.Each fastener 50 has one end comprising a hook 52. Hooks 52 are adaptedto respectively engage holes 54 positioned on opposite sides of theshaft 22 thereby attaching the fasteners 50 to the shaft. The other ends56 of fasteners 50 are threaded so as to accept respective threadedretaining nuts 58. Clamping piece 45 has a pair of flanges 60 whichextend outwardly from opposite sides of contact faces 46 a and 46 b.Apertures 62 in the flanges are adapted to receive threaded ends 56 offasteners 50. Clamping action is achieved by retaining nuts 58 engagingthreaded ends 56 of fasteners 50 and bearing on flanges 60 to clamp thecontact region 46 and contact surface 34 against tool handle 12.

[0029] The auxiliary handle 14 may be readily repositioned along theelongated handle 12 by loosening nuts 58, sliding the auxiliary handle14 along the elongated tool handle 12 to a new position, andretightening the nuts, thus, allowing the auxiliary handle to adapt tothe sizes of different users.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the fasteners 50 are attached along theoutside surface 64 of shaft 22 by a cross fastener 66 and clips 68. Asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, cross fastener 66 passes through a hole 70 whichpreferably passes through a diameter of shaft 22. Clips 68 are securedat either end of the cross fastener 66 which in turn engages a nut 72.Each clip 68 extends from the cross fastener 66 and is in overlyingengagement with a fastener 50 on either side of shaft 22. When nut 72 istightened, clips 68 clamp the fasteners 50 against the outside surface64 of shaft 22 thereby preventing the auxiliary handle 14 from rotatingrelative to the elongated handle 12 when force is applied to either orboth handles. A locking washer 74 may be used to prevent the nut 72 frombacking off.

[0031] Preferably, auxiliary handle 14 is molded from a high impactplastic such as polyethylene. Such material provides a strong,lightweight, inexpensive and durable handle. The hardware such as thefasteners 50 and 66, nuts 58 and 72, clips 68 and clamping piece 44 arepreferably a non-corroding high strength material such as stainlesssteel. Fasteners 50 may be bent as shown in FIG. 4, the bend allowingthe fasteners to accommodate the angle 42 to allow the auxiliary handle14 to be angled relatively to the elongated handle 12 as describedabove.

[0032] In use, as shown in FIG. 2, the user is able to remainsubstantially upright while grasping both the elongated handle 12 andthe auxiliary handle 14, allowing the muscle groups of the arms to beused to lift or otherwise move bulk material with the working piece 18of the tool 10 with little or no strain on the back muscles as comparedwith the posture shown in FIG. 1 where the back muscles do a significantpart of the work.

[0033] When fitted to tools with an elongated handle, the auxiliaryhandle according to the invention reduces fatigue and the potential forinjury due to back strain or sprain and provides a tool which isergonomically adapted for use by people efficiently and safely.

What is claimed is:
 1. An auxiliary handle attachable to an elongatedtool handle of a tool to facilitate manual lifting of a working end ofsaid tool, said auxiliary handle comprising: an elongated shaft having acontact surface at one end adapted to engage said tool handle; a clampattached to said shaft at said one end for clamping said contact surfaceagainst said tool handle; and a gripping yoke mounted on an opposite endof said shaft for manual gripping.
 2. An auxiliary handle according toclaim 1, wherein said clamp comprises: a clamping piece having a contactregion adapted to engage said tool handle, said contact region beingpositioned opposite to and facing said contact surface; a pair offlanges extending outwardly from opposite sides of said contact regiontransversely to said tool handle; and a pair of elongated fastenersmounted along opposite sides of said shaft at said one end, each saidfastener comprising a first end engageable with said shaft and a secondend engageable with one of said flanges, said fasteners clamping saidcontact region and said contact surface against said tool handle forretaining said auxiliary handle to said tool handle.
 3. An auxiliaryhandle according to claim 2, wherein said contact surface comprises apair of contact faces angularly oriented relatively to one another so asto face a common center, said contact faces contacting said tool handlein spaced relation to one another circumferentially around said toolhandle.
 4. An auxiliary handle according to claim 3, wherein saidcontact faces are angularly oriented relatively to the long axis of saidshaft about an axis perpendicular to both said long axis of said shaftand the long axis of said tool handle for orienting said shaft angularlyrelatively to said tool handle.
 5. An auxiliary handle according toclaim 2, wherein said contact region comprises a pair of contact facesangularly oriented relatively to one another so as to face a commoncenter, said contact faces contacting said tool handle in spacedrelation to one another circumferentially around said tool handle.
 6. Anauxiliary handle according to claim 1, wherein said clamp is adjustablypositionable along the length of said elongated tool handle forpositioning said gripping yoke at a position allowing manual graspingthereof by a user in a substantially upright posture.
 7. An auxiliaryhandle according to claim 2, wherein each of said fasteners comprise ahook at said first end, said hooks adapted to engage a pair of holespositioned on opposite sides of said shaft for attaching said fastenersto said shaft on opposite sides thereof.
 8. An auxiliary handleaccording to claim 7, wherein each of said fasteners has a threadedsecond end adapted to receive a respective retaining nut, said flangeseach having an aperture therein sized to receive one of said threadedends, said retaining nuts engaging said flanges and being tightenablefor clamping said contact surface and said contact region against saidtool handle.
 9. An auxiliary handle according to claim 8, furthercomprising: a cross fastener extending transversely through said shaftproximate to said one end; and a pair of clips secured on opposite sidesof said shaft by said cross fastener, said clips engaging said pair ofelongated fasteners and retaining said fasteners against said shaft. 10.An auxiliary handle according to claim 1, wherein said gripping yokecomprises a pair of side portions extending from said opposite end ofsaid shaft, said side portions being in spaced relation to one anotherand defining an opening therebetween, a hand grip attached between saidside portions and oriented transversely to said shaft, said hand gripbeing adapted for manual gripping to facilitate manual lifting of saidtool.
 11. An auxiliary handle according to claim 10, wherein said sideportions extend substantially parallel to said shaft and said hand gripextends substantially perpendicularly to said side portions.
 12. A toolhaving an auxiliary handle for facilitating manual lifting of a workingend of said tool, said tool comprising: an elongated tool handle; aworking piece attached to an end of said tool handle thereby definingsaid working end; an elongated shaft having a contact surface at one endengaging said tool handle, said shaft extending transversely from saidtool handle; a clamp attached to said shaft at said one end clampingsaid contact surface against said tool handle; and a gripping yokemounted on an opposite end of said shaft for manual gripping.
 13. A toolaccording to claim 12, wherein said clamp comprises: a clamping piecehaving a contact region adapted to engage said tool handle, said contactregion being positioned opposite to and facing said contact surface; apair of flanges extending outwardly from opposite sides of said contactregion transversely to said tool handle; and a pair of elongatedfasteners mounted along opposite sides of said shaft at said one end,each said fastener comprising a first end engageable with said shaft anda second end engageable with one of said flanges, said fastenersclamping said contact region and said contact surface against said toolhandle for retaining said shaft transversely to said tool handle.
 14. Atool according to claim 13, wherein said contact surface comprises apair of contact faces angularly oriented relatively to one another so asto face a common center, said contact faces contacting said tool handlein spaced relation to one another circumferentially around said toolhandle.
 15. A tool according to claim 14, wherein said contact faces areangularly oriented relatively to the long axis of said shaft about anaxis perpendicular to both the long axis of said shaft and the long axisof said tool handle for orienting said shaft angularly relatively tosaid tool handle.
 16. A tool according to claim 15, wherein said contactregion comprises a pair of second contact faces angularly orientedrelatively to one another so as to face a second common center, saidsecond contact faces contacting said tool handle in spaced relation toone another circumferentially around said tool handle.
 17. A toolaccording to claim 12, wherein said auxiliary handle is adjustablypositionable along the length of said elongated tool handle forpositioning said gripping yoke at a position allowing manual graspingthereof by a user in a substantially upright posture.
 18. A toolaccording to claim 12, wherein said working piece comprises a shovelblade.
 19. An auxiliary handle attachable to an elongated tool handle ofa tool, said elongated tool handle having a working end with a workingpiece adapted to move bulk material, said auxiliary handle comprising:an elongated shaft having first and second ends and a long axis orientedlengthwise therealong; a gripping yoke attached to said first end ofsaid shaft, said gripping yoke being adapted to facilitate manualgrasping of said auxiliary handle and lifting of said tool; a contactsurface positioned at said second end of said shaft, said contactsurface being positionable in abutting engagement with said elongatedtool handle at a point between said working end and an opposite end ofsaid elongated tool handle; a clamping piece having a contact regionpositioned facing said contact surface and engageable with saidelongated tool handle, said elongated tool handle being positionablebetween said contact surface and said contact region for attachment ofsaid auxiliary handle to said elongated tool handle; and a plurality offasteners extending substantially longitudinally along said shaft fromsaid second end for engaging and attaching said clamping piece to saidshaft, whereby, when attached to said elongated tool handle, saidauxiliary handle is grasped by one hand of a user and said elongatedtool handle is grasped by the other hand of the user, said auxiliaryhandle allowing said tool to be lifted by said user while assuming asubstantially upright position.
 20. An auxiliary handle according toclaim 19, wherein said contact surface comprises a pair of first contactfaces oriented angularly with respect to said long axis of said shaft,said first contact faces facing toward said long axis on opposite sidesthereof and thereby being engageable with said tool handle.
 21. Anauxiliary handle according to claim 20, wherein said contact regioncomprises a pair of second contact faces oriented angularly with respectto said long axis of said shaft, said second contact faces facing towardsaid long axis on opposite sides thereof and thereby being engageablewith said tool handle.
 22. An auxiliary handle according to claim 19,wherein one of said fasteners comprises an elongated bolt having athreaded portion at one end thereof and extending from said second endof said shaft, said clamping piece having a flange extending outwardlytherefrom and positioned substantially perpendicularly to said bolt,said flange having an aperture adapted to receive said bolt, said bolthaving a threaded retaining nut engageable therewith and bearing on saidflange for retaining said clamping piece to said second end of saidshaft.
 23. An auxiliary handle according to claim 22, wherein said boltextends along an outer surface of said shaft, the other end of said boltbeing angularly oriented toward said long axis of said shaft, said shafthaving a hole extending toward said long axis and adapted to receivesaid other end of said bolt.
 24. An auxiliary handle according to claim23, further comprising a cross fastener extending through said shaft andoriented transversely to said long axis, and a clip extending from saidcross fastener in overlying engagement with said fastener, said fastenerbeing captured between said outer surface of said shaft and said clip.